Key Points
- Australia has one of the highest incidences of food allergies
- Action Plans provide clear guideline to recognise and manage an allergic reaction
- Best Practice Guidelines were developed in 2021, for anaphylaxis prevention and management
- Adrenaline injectors are available under PBS authority prescription
Australia has one of the highest food allergy rates in the world. According to the , food allergies now affect one in 10 infants and around two in 100 adults in Australia.
Sending children with allergies and anaphylaxis to school can be worrying for many parents, especially for those newly arrived in Australia, who may not be aware of the systems and guidelines in place.
Management of a child with allergies in education and childcare relies on the communication between parents, schools, and clinicians.
Maria Said, CEO of Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia, says allergies in schools are relatively well managed in Australia, and it starts with finding a knowledgeable healthcare professional you can trust.
You should never self-diagnose or rely on anecdotal information.
It's critical that people find a doctor that they trust...finding someone that you trust and taking their advice and continuing under their care is what we recommend.Maria Said, CEO of Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia
Action Plans; recognise and manage allergic reactions
When enrolling a child with allergies or anaphylaxis to school or childcare, it is a requirement for parents to provide up-to-date medical information and an individualised anaphylaxis care plan, including an Action Plan.
The Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergyis a medical document, that provides clear and evidence-based information to recognise and manage an allergic reaction. Action Plans must be completed and signed by the treating doctor or nurse practitioner.
According to Dr Katie Frith, a paediatric immunologist and allergist at Sydney Children's Hospital, these plans may be referred to by their colours.
The "red action plan" is for those prescribed with an adrenaline injector, and are at a serious risk of anaphylaxis, and a "green action plan" is for those without an adrenaline injector, but nevertheless at risk of an allergic reaction. As such, schools will require either an original copy or a coloured copy of the plan.
from the ASCIA's website and are also available.
Action Plans do not expire, but they may need a review every so often, which should be decided by your doctor, says Dr Frith.
"Some schools request that the Action Plans are updated every year, but this is not actually necessary, because some children with some allergies, we might only review them every 18 months or every two years."
Australia has nationwide guidelines
launched last year, is an evidence-based national guideline document for staff to follow in order to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis.
One of the key messages in the guidelines is the importance of being "allergy aware", rather than relying on the blanket ban of certain foods such as nuts and eggs, which can create a false sense of security.
Preschool kids Source: Getty / skynesher
Banning does not work. We’ve got to have systems in place to help reduce risk within a class environment.Novia Chan
For Novia Chan, whose son Tristen is allergic to many foods, such as dairy products, eggs, seafood, and nuts, a ban on one food group does not help. Rather, educating her son about his condition and having firm rules set in place is the best preventive measure.
"I tell Tristen, 'do not eat anything given by others'. If he wants to try something he's never had before, always bring it to me, so that I can check the ingredients, and make sure they are nut free, dairy free and egg free," says Ms Chan.
Checking label ingredients at supermarket
"Luckily, food sharing is prohibited at school and all students are told not to share their snacks and lunch with their peers," Ms Chan explains.
Ms Said says, it's important that parents and school staff "work together“ and that all children are involved in the care, at an "age-appropriate level".
So, educating the child with food allergies, educating their peers on how to look out for their friends that have got a food allergy, communicating the risk of anaphylaxis, putting a lot of strategies in place to help reduce the risk of anaphylaxis to that child.Maria Said, CEO of Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia
Medications at school
Once your child is enrolled in school or childcare, it is required that you provide all necessary medications outlined in the Action Plan. Schools will have an "emergency kit" for each student, which contains their Action Plan and medication.
When attending activities outside the school, such as excursions, sporting events and school camps, the teachers will carry these kits.
Students may not be able to attend these activities if their medication is expired, so it is ideal to keep note of the expiry dates and replace accordingly.
Adrenaline injectors on PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme)
In Australia, you do not need a prescription to obtain adrenaline injectors, Epipen or Anapen. But buying them this way can be expensive, costing around $75 to $100 per injector.
The most efficient way to get an adrenaline injector is to have a PBS Authority prescription, and that will allow you to have two adrenaline injectors for around $40Dr Katie Frith, Paediatric Immunologist & Allergist at Sydney Children's Hospital
The initial PBS Authority prescription must be provided by a specialist, and thereafter, prescriptions can be written by your GP, says Dr Frith.
Dr Frith encourages her patients to hold onto expired adrenaline injectors as a backup, as we saw a national shortage of supplies due to the pandemic last year.
"It is important that you have access to an in-date injector, but the adrenaline doesn't lose its potency completely, so it is good to have it as a backup."
It is also a great way to practice on an orange or water bottle, to familiarise yourself with the injector, she recommends.
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